Bryce Young outduels C.J. Stroud as Panthers get first win - ESPN

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Bryce Young outplayed C.J. Stroud on Sunday in a rare matchup of the top two picks of the draft in their rookie season and helped the Carolina Panthers to their first win, a 15-13 victory over the Houston Texans.

Young moved the Panthers (1-6) in position for Eddy Pineiro 's walk-off 23-yard field goal at Bank of America Stadium by completing five of his final six pass attempts. The top pick of the draft finished 22 of 31 for 235 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions.

He also rushed four times for 11 yards, including a 7-yard scramble on the game-winning drive that used up the final 6:17.

Stroud, taken No. 2 by the Texans, completed 16 of 24 pass attempts for 140 yards and no touchdowns.

When asked afterward how the showdown against Stroud went, Young responded, «Sorry, what did you say?''

When the reporter asked again, Young said, „Big showdown?''

When it was made clear the question was about him and Stroud, Young laughed and said, “Oh that.''

»We're two teams,'' Young continued. «C.J. is my dawg. I have a ton of love and respect for him. It's not a 1-on-1 game out there. I'm super, super happy for this team, to be a part of this team.

»A really resilient win.... It took everyone. I'm just grateful to be a part of it.''

This was only the fifth time the top two picks of the same draft met as rookies since the common draft era began in 1967. The last was Jacksonville's Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson of the New York Jets in 2021.

The second-round pick won three of the four previous meetings. Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts over Ryan Leaf and the Chargers in 1998 was the exception.

Stroud appeared to have the upper hand in this one with the Texans entering the game 3-3 and their